CVE-2019-2253 in Snapdragon Auto
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer over-read can occur while parsing an ogg file with a corrupted comment block. in Snapdragon Auto, Snapdragon Connectivity, Snapdragon Consumer IOT, Snapdragon Industrial IOT, Snapdragon IoT, Snapdragon Mobile, Snapdragon Voice & Music, Snapdragon Wearables in MDM9150, MDM9206, MDM9607, MDM9650, MSM8909W, MSM8996AU, QCS405, QCS605, Qualcomm 215, SD 210/SD 212/SD 205, SD 425, SD 427, SD 430, SD 435, SD 439 / SD 429, SD 450, SD 600, SD 615/16/SD 415, SD 625, SD 632, SD 636, SD 665, SD 675, SD 712 / SD 710 / SD 670, SD 730, SD 820, SD 820A, SD 835, SD 845 / SD 850, SD 855, SDA660, SDM439, SDM630, SDM660, SDX20
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/12/2020
This vulnerability represents a critical buffer over-read condition that manifests when processing malformed ogg audio files containing corrupted comment blocks. The flaw exists within the multimedia processing components of various Qualcomm Snapdragon chipsets, affecting a wide range of devices including automotive systems, mobile phones, wearables, and IoT devices. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation during the parsing of ogg container format metadata, specifically when handling comment fields that exceed expected boundaries. This issue allows an attacker to craft malicious ogg files that trigger memory access violations when the affected software attempts to read beyond allocated buffer boundaries. The impact extends across multiple Snapdragon product lines including the MDM9150, MDM9206, MDM9607, and numerous mobile and IoT processors, indicating a widespread exposure across Qualcomm's hardware portfolio.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the improper handling of variable-length comment structures within the ogg file format specification. When the parser encounters a corrupted comment block, it fails to properly validate the length parameters before attempting to read data from memory locations. This over-read condition can result in information disclosure, application crashes, or potentially more severe consequences depending on the execution context. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-125: Out-of-bounds Read, which specifically addresses situations where programs access memory beyond the bounds of allocated buffers. The flaw demonstrates poor defensive programming practices and inadequate bounds checking mechanisms within the multimedia processing stack of affected Qualcomm chipsets.
Operationally, this vulnerability poses significant risks to device security and stability across multiple deployment scenarios. Mobile devices, automotive infotainment systems, and IoT deployments that process user-generated or downloaded ogg content become susceptible to exploitation. The attack surface is broad since ogg files are commonly used in multimedia applications, streaming services, and various digital content delivery mechanisms. An attacker could potentially deliver malicious ogg files through email attachments, web downloads, or file sharing applications, leading to device instability or unauthorized information access. The vulnerability's impact is particularly concerning given that it affects both consumer and industrial IoT devices, potentially compromising critical infrastructure systems that rely on Qualcomm's processing platforms.
Mitigation strategies should focus on firmware updates from device manufacturers, as the vulnerability resides within Qualcomm's proprietary multimedia processing components. System administrators and security teams should implement strict file validation policies for all incoming ogg content, particularly in enterprise environments where device security is paramount. Network-level filtering solutions can help prevent malicious ogg files from reaching vulnerable devices by implementing content inspection and blocking mechanisms. Additionally, users should avoid downloading or opening ogg files from untrusted sources, and device manufacturers should consider implementing additional input sanitization layers within their applications to provide defense-in-depth protection. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of robust input validation and memory safety practices, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter execution, where improper input handling could lead to arbitrary code execution through memory corruption attacks.